How to Get Your Artwork to Last a Lifetime

Congratulations! You finally decided to take the plunge and purchase a new piece of artwork to decorate your home. While this can be an expensive investment, it’s no doubt a worthwhile one.

Once you officially take ownership of the piece, you’ll naturally want to take good care of it so you can enjoy it for years to come and maybe one day pass it on to your heirs. With this in mind, here are some things to consider for keeping your new prized possession in optimal condition.

Sunlight
Chances are sunlight is streaming into almost all the rooms in your house. While light is definitely a good thing for your well-being and an essential element of your home’s design, direct sunlight can fade even the most high-quality artwork over time. Observe how the sunlight hits the walls of the room at different times of the day. Choose a wall that has good light, but is not directly in the path of the sun. If you need more light on your new purchase, consider installing track lighting above or below it.

Temperature
While you can’t control the weather, you do have a say over your home’s interior climate. You’ll need to keep your house cool in the summer to create an optimal environment for your artwork. If you have to store your art temporarily, make certain to rent a climate-controlled storage space or store it in a room in your home that doesn’t experience extremes in temperature or have high humidity. Do you ever wonder why museums are so cold? This is why. You won’t want your room to be freezing either, but heat can adversely affect artwork no matter what medium the artist used to create the work. Just make sure the room you choose maintains a consistent, moderate temperature.

Display
After you buy the work and take it home, make sure the hanging hardware on the back is stable. You may want to consider re-doing it if the painting has an older frame. As long as the hardware on the back seems sturdy enough, hang your work with two firm anchors set securely into studs in the wall to protect your piece from ever falling. Also, avoid placing the work in tight spaces, walkways or hallways where guests or family members may accidentally bump into the piece and cause a catastrophe.

With just a few accommodations taken to protect your new piece of art, you’ll ensure you can cherish it for a lifetime.